The breadth of choice for dual-cab ute buyers in Australia continues to expand. One of its recent entries, the diesel-powered LDV Terron 9, has just secured a five-star ANCAP safety rating. The rating is valid for all diesel variants sold from July 2025 onwards and remains effective until December 2030.
Given how Chinese auto brands stem from the same parent company, many models share underpinnings across monikers. That’s why this result is based on testing of the Maxus eTerron 9 conducted in 2024, with ANCAP confirming that the findings apply to the locally sold LDV Terron 9.
Breaking down the safety scores
Adult Occupant Protection score- 91% (36.78 out of 40)
The Chinese ute earned full marks in the full-width frontal, side impact, and occupant-to-occupant tests, showing that its structure and restraint systems are well-tuned for common crash scenarios. The frontal offset score of 6.19/8.00 and pole oblique result of 5.63/6.00 also reflect solid crashworthiness. Buyers should note, however, that rear-seat whiplash protection scored just 1.00/3.00, which suggests back-seat passengers may not be as well protected in low-speed rear-end collisions compared to front occupants. For families or those carrying passengers regularly, this could be an important consideration.
Child Occupant Protection- 89% (44 out of 49).
The LDV Terron 9 performed particularly well in crash tests, earning maximum points in the frontal offset (16.00/16.00) and side impact (8.00/8.00) assessments. Child restraint installation was also rated highly (12.00/12.00), giving parents flexibility in fitting seats securely. The only shortfall is in on-board safety features, where the score was 8/13, and the absence of a top tether anchorage in the second-row centre seat limits installation options. For buyers with multiple children, this could mean less versatility in seating arrangements.
Vulnerable Road User Protection- 84% (53.13 out of 63)
The ute excelled in knee and tibia protection (9.00/9.00) and returned strong results in AEB performance for pedestrians (5.72/6.00), cyclists (8.09/9.00), and motorcyclists (6.00/6.00). Head protection was more mixed, with a score of 12.02/18, and pelvis protection was weaker at 3.30/6.00. For buyers who drive regularly in urban environments, these scores suggest that the LDV Terron 9 offers effective active safety systems that can reduce the severity of collisions with pedestrians and cyclists, although physical protection for specific body regions remains an area for improvement.
Safety Assist Technologies- 85% (15.38 out of 18)
The Terron 9 offers a comprehensive suite of driver aids, represented by its strong score in these tests. Lane support systems received full marks (3.00/3.00), and speed assistance technology also performed well (2.58/3.00). AEB was particularly strong in junction assist (3.58/4.00) and rear-end collision scenarios (3.35/4.00). The weaker head-on AEB score (0.88/2.00) suggests some limitations in forward collision prevention at higher closing speeds. For buyers, this means that while the LDV Terron 9 is well-equipped with advanced safety technology, it may not offer the same level of head-on crash prevention seen in some rivals.
Standard safety equipment
The following safety features are fitted as standard across all LDV Terron 9 diesel variants:
- Dual frontal, side chest-protecting, and side head-protecting airbags
- Centre airbag for front seat occupants
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (Car-to-Car, Vulnerable Road User, Junction, Crossing, Backover, Head-On)
- Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK)
- Advanced Speed Assistance System (SAS) with traffic sign recognition
Note: The second-row centre seat does not include a top tether anchorage, and child restraints should not be installed in this position.
What does ANCAP say about this result?
ANCAP highlighted the Terron 9’s results in both crash protection and active safety testing. The organisation noted strong performance in emergency lane-keeping and in reversing AEB scenarios designed to detect pedestrians.
“This is an excellent result for LDV’s new generation ute.” ANCAP stated.
Who should consider the LDV Terron 9?
The LDV Terron 9 sits in the $35,000–$65,000 bracket, and its five-star ANCAP rating positions it well for a variety of buyers:
- Tradies and ute buyers: A strong dual-cab option for work, with high crash protection scores and active safety tech, makes the ute trustworthy for worksites and highways.
- Families: Solid Adult and Child Occupant Protection scores make it a safe choice for family use. Airbags and child restraint compatibility are positives, though the absence of a top tether in the centre rear seat may limit flexibility.
- Fleet operators: Meets five-star ANCAP requirements often mandated by businesses and government fleets, while also offering a full suite of standard safety systems.
- Safety-conscious private buyers: Comes equipped with AEB for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, along with lane support and speed assistance, features that make daily driving safer.
Final thoughts
The LDV Terron 9 achieved high scores in all four ANCAP categories, with consistent results across occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection, and active safety. The model now carries a five-star rating that is valid until December 2030, providing assurance for buyers prioritising safety in the utility market.
Comments
New Comment